Hope Ranch Lavender Farm is as sweet as it smells

A flower farm packed with blossoms, vistas, and views? Don’t mind if I do. Come to Oregon, she said. And make a beeline towards Mt Hood territory. Out here, in the shadow of volcanic peaks, small farms lined with fruit trees, grapevines, and blooms beckon a visit. Especially come summer when lane after lane of lavender plants sweeten the warm Pacific Northwest air. Hope Ranch Lavender Farm is pretty as a picture and the perfect spot to pack a picnic, smell the wares, or stop and relax for a while.

Getting to the lavender fields

An easy day trip from Portland – and just 10 minutes from Hood River – Hope Ranch is open to the public free of charge, from June to September. Take I-84 to the town of Hood River. Then follow Highway 35 south, home to the Mt Hood Fruit Loop – a collection of small growers, fruit farms, wineries, and brewers.

Turn onto Fir Mountain Road and find the farm perched on a plateau with rolling hills and friendly cows on site. In one direction, stately views of Mt Hood. Turn around and find Mt Adams, across the Columbia River, in Washington State to the north.

Private sessions in the fields or after-hours

While the fields are available to the public until 5 p.m. on open days, you can arrange to stay and take photos after hours. We booked directly with the lovely farm owner Ivy to get the fields to ourselves earlier this summer. For a $100 fee, she invited us to stay as long as we liked – it was as dreamy as it seemed. Imagine a birthday picnic in that golden hour sunset light.

U-Cut lavender and summer blooms

Pick up a pair of scissors to snip your bunch, as much as you can fit in twist ties provided on-site – just $10. Lavender dries amazingly well with little intervention and will scent your home for many months. Fearful of the busy bees flitting between flowers? You can purchase a pre-cut bunch. As the farm heads towards fall, brightly colored zinnias, sunflowers, and other blooms are available for your take-home farm bouquets.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Fields are open 10 am-5 pm Thursday through Saturday 12 pm-5 pm Sundays. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

ADDRESS:
2585 Fir Mountain Rd, Hood River, OR 97031

OPENING HOURS:
June through September

Thursday – Saturday | 10 am-5 pm
Sunday | 12 pm-5 pm
Tuesday and Wednesday | Closed

ENTRANCE:
Free of charge

U-PICK:
$10 per bundle

Wish this pin was scratch and sniff! Share it now or save it for later. Cheers from here. Come to Oregon, she said.